Handbag structure



Nov. 16, 1937. P, U'PHAM 2,099,663

HANDBAG STRUCTURE Filed May 1o, 1955 Patented Nov. 16, 1937 uNr'rEo;ASTATES PATENT OFFICE HANDBAG STRUCTURE Application May 10, 1935, Serial-No. 20,742, 2 claims.- (c1. 15o-29) ably securing an inner frame toanouter frame.

In the drawing, which represents a preferred embodiment of my inventionFigure 1 is a top view of my improved handbag in closed position;

Fig. 2 is a front view of my handbag;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of my handbag in open position;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged section of my improved outer frame hinging devicewith my inner purse frame in assembly therewith;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged section of my improved outer frame hinging devicewith my inner purse frame detached from the outer frame;

Fig. 7 is a section taken on the line 'I-'I of Fig. 6; and

Fig. 8 is an enlarged view of my improved outer frame hinging device.

Referring to the drawing, Figs. 1 and 2 show a handbag having the frontand rear walls I and 2 and the end Walls 3. In Fig. 5, I haveillustrated a preferred frame structure of the U-shaped cross-sectiontype where the material of the front and rear side walls I and 2 isbrought over the outer walls 4 of the frame members and anchored betweenthose walls and their inner walls 5.

Referring to my improved frame construction,

at their points of connection, I have shown in Fig. 3 a pair of U-shapedouter frame members 9 and I0. Integral with the free end of one leg IIof each member is an ear-shaped element I2 having an aperture I2atherein. Integral with 4o the free end of the other leg I3 of eachmember is a hollow bearing I4. The elements I2 and I4 are pivotally heldtogether at each end of the frame by a rivet such as a hollow pin I5, asshown in Figs. 5, 6 and 8.

The pin I5 runs the width of the bag frame and, in my preferred form,the hollow bearing I4 and the ear-shaped element I2 will together (asshown in Fig. 8) bear upon the entire surface of the pin I5. The elementI2 is located on the pin between an end of the bearing I4 and a turnedback end I5a of the pin I5. As a result of this position, one face ofthe element I2 will abut an end of the hollow bearing I4 and itsopposite face will abut the turned back portion I5a of the rivet pin I5.The result of the construction described above is that, due to the widecontinuous surface ofthebearingielement I4 andv the compact manner inWhich-the free endsf-of the frame members have been assembledtogether ateach .end of the bag with'thepivot.pinsythe 5 parallel lateral movementofytheairamesf-prevalent in .many bag frames isfeliminated and a;particularly strong, yet simple,v hingingA device is provided.

Located within and attached to the outer frame 10 is a purse which isconcealed within the handbag when the handbag is closed, but which isexposed to view and available foreasy entrance when the handbag is open.The frame for the purse comprises the frame members I6 and I1 15 whichare held in closed position by the cam means I8 (Fig. 3).

The frame members IB and II are of a substantially channel shape incross-section, the free ends of each member being provided with 20 theear-shaped elements I9 which are connected at each end of the frame bythe pivot pin 2U, as shown in Figs. 5-7. The pin 2U comprises anattaching portion 2|, a ange portion 22, and the pivot portion 23. 25

When the purse is assembled with the outer bag frames 9 and I0, anattaching portion 2| at one end of the purse frame is inserted into oneof the hollow rivets I5; opposite adjacent ends of the frame members I6and I1 are then pressed toward 30 the attached portion whereby thenatural spring action in the frame members I6 and I'I will allow theattaching portion 2I at the other end of the purse frame to be insertedinto its corresponding hollow rivet I5. After assembling the purse 35frame with the outer frame, the spring qualities of the purse frame willprevent the easy disengagement of the attaching portions 2I from theirseats, but the purse frame may be easily and quickly detached from theouter frame, if it is l0 purposely so desired, by reversing theassembling process described above.

The fianges 22 of the pin 20 will prevent the ear-shaped elements of thepurse frame member ends from slipping over the attaching por- 45 tions2I before assembly with the outer frame, and the portions 23 willprovide a suitable means upon which the corresponding frame end elementsmay pivot in order to carry out the opening and closing of the purse. 50

Each of the outer frame members illustrated have, as sho-wn in Fig. 4, aflange means 6 extending inwardly from the outer wall thereby causingthe bag material to project over the inner walls 5, which, in order tocarry out my pur- 55 pose, have been madeV shorter than the outer walls4. As a result o f this construction, the frames will be completelyhidden by the bag material and the bag will be given a very attractiveappearance.

,Asa means for fastening the bag frames to- .gethexgV I have providedthe cams 1, as Vshown in Fig. 4, which are attached to the frame membersin any suitable 'manner and so located withl in the handbag that theyare concealed from View when the bag frames are'in closed position.A'Ihe knobs 8 (Figs. 1-3) are located on the walls I and 2 of the handbagandV used, in my preferred form, for drawing the cams apart by a lateralpull upon the same. Y

Although I have illustrated and described'za'I preferred embodiment ofmy invention, YI do not wish to be limited thereby, because the Yscopevof my invention is best dened by the following claims.

I claim:

1. A handbag frame having a pair of frame members of channel-shapedcross-section formed Vwith bottom and side Walls, a hinge constructionfor each end of the frame, each hinge construction comprising a at earformed as an extension ofthe channel bottom of one'frame mem@Y ber atthe end thereof and constituting the sole hinge element for that framemember, a hollow i bearing formed as an extension of one of the sideWalls of the other frame member and constituting the sole hinge elementfor that frame member, and a hinge pin passing through said ear andbearing and securing them in pivotally assembled relation. 1 Y

2. A handbag frame having Va, pair of frame members of channel-shapedcross-sectionformed with bottom and side walls, a hinge constructionforeach end of the frame, each hinge construction comprising a Vflat earformed as an extension of the channel bottom of one frame member at theend thereof and constituting the sole hinge elementfor that framemember, a hollow bearing formed as an extension of one of the side Wallsof the other frame member and constituting the sole hinge element forthat frame Y member, .and a hinge pin passing through said

